WELCOME TO THE DEBORTOLI PUB OF THE WEEK - 2011:

Its time again to find the best pub in Victoria in 2011 as I will present the Pub of the week segment for the 16^th year with Neil, each Friday, around 1140am.

After such a long time, re-reviews are inevitable, but I am more than happy to consider any suggestions and head to pubs not yet visited to check them out.

Email or blogs, send them in.  All comments welcome and will be answered by me.  The address for emails is tleonard@3aw.com.au.  Space for blog comments appear at the end of the review.

There is no change as far as scoring is concerned. Indeed the elements of a good pub i.e., food, beer, staff, hospitality are all part of the equation.

A couple of things to consider;

• Personnel at pubs is a moveable feast and who’s cooking one day, or running the show, may not be doing so the next.  If you want to try a pub reviewed a couple of years ago, things may have changed,
  
  
• Like all areas of dining, pubs are not immune from the effect of floods on the produce they source. In other words, expect to pay more again for a sharp, snazzy, decent main, mid-high $20s is now the norm,
  
  
• The humble pot of beer is likely to be closer to $4.50 at year’s end than $4. At that price, publicans/managers are duty bound to present it in best possible manner, not some of the garbage they are currently serving up,

In receiving your feedback, a common theme is that I favour certain areas of Melbourne. To a point that is true as I like to bat up for the owner/operator who doesn’t have pokies/TAB to support the bottom line and overwhelmingly these are found in a 5-6km radius of the centre of Melbourne.

However, if there a bigger, outer suburban pubs doing great things and are prepared to stretch a boundary, please let me know.  And if a good country pub is shooting the lights out, let me know. No one is excluded!!!

The reviews will be streamlined this year and presented in a slightly different format – More facts, less narrative!!

First review is Friday 28 January, and again I thank Peter and Vince from DeBortoli for their continued support.

Date:    Pub:                                        Where:                                    Score  
28/1     Redesdale Hotel                       Redesdale                                14.5    

04/2     Mail Exchange Hotel                  CBD                                         14.0

11/02  Hotel Spencer                        West Melbourne                          15.8

18/02   Standard Hotel                            Fitzroy                                     13.7

25/02:   Bay & Bridge Hotel               Port Melbourne                             12.5